Midlife Identified as Key Phase for Brain Health in New Study

Research reveals dynamic changes in brain cell recycling processes during aging, challenging previous assumptions.

Recent findings show that mitophagy, the recycling of damaged mitochondria, varies across brain regions and cell types with age.
The study highlights midlife as a critical period for maintaining brain function and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers observed that lysosomes, which break down cellular waste, lose acidity as the brain ages, a change linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Contrary to previous beliefs, mitophagy does not universally decline with age but is more dynamic in longer-lived mammals.
Advanced imaging and genetic tools were used to track these processes, providing insights for developing new therapies for brain diseases.